Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings (Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified																		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member] 4.875% Subordinated Notes due February 15, 2013 [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member] 4.875% Subordinated Notes due February 15, 2013 [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member] 13.00% Junior Subordinated Amortizing Notes with Quarterly Interest and Principal Payments through May 15, 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member] 13.00% Junior Subordinated Amortizing Notes with Quarterly Interest and Principal Payments through May 15, 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member] 5.125% Subordinated Notes due June 15, 2017 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member] 5.125% Subordinated Notes due June 15, 2017 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member] 7.875% Senior Notes due February 15, 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member] 7.875% Senior Notes due February 15, 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Parent Company [Member] LIBOR Plus 1.80% debentures, due April 19, 2035 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Parent Company [Member] LIBOR Plus 1.80% debentures, due April 19, 2035 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Subsidiaries [Member] FHLB Advances [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Subsidiaries [Member] Other Notes Payable and Capital Leases [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Synovus Bank [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Synovus Bank [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Synovus Bank [Member] FHLB Advances [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Synovus Bank [Member] FHLB Advances [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Synovus Bank [Member] Other Notes Payable and Capital Leases [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Synovus Bank [Member] Other Notes Payable and Capital Leases [Member]	Feb. 13, 2012 Issuance of Debt [Member] 7.875% Senior Notes due February 15, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated notes								$ 60,612	[1]	$ 206,750	[1]			$ 450,000	$ 450,000													$ 206,800
Junior subordinated notes												13,566	38,229			293,554	0
Unsecured debt																		10,000	10,000
Hedge-related basis adjustments				13,935	[2]	21,188	[2]
FHLB advances with interest and principal payments due at various maturity dates through 2018																								880,701	633,839
Other notes payable and capital leases with interest and principal payments due at various maturity dates through 2031																										4,087	4,721
Long-term debt	$ 1,726,455	$ 1,364,727		$ 841,667		$ 726,167																$ 884,788	$ 638,560
Stated percentage								4.875%		4.875%		13.00%	13.00%	5.125%	5.125%
Description of variable rate basis																		LIBOR	LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate																		1.80%	1.80%
Interest rate at period end	0.16%	0.24%	0.30%															2.35%
Stated percentage rate range, minimum																				0.35%
Stated percentage rate range, maximum																				4.70%
Weighted average interest rate																				1.05%	3.89%

[1]

[2] Unamortized balance of terminated interest rate swaps reflected in debt for financial reporting purposes.